[HLA and disease in Argentina. Serologic and genomic polymorphism]

In this report we discuss the results of the association of chronic active hepatitis (B virus) and coeliac disease with HLA class I and class II antigens, in patients of Latin American Caucasian origin. Evidence is presented showing that the alleles involved differ from those reported in other Caucasian populations of different ethnic background. Differences were observed both at the serology and at the DNA (RFLP) level. The relevance of these findings regarding the clinical implications as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in the associations are discussed.